A timeline of events leading to apologies that former Ohio State President Gordon Gee made about off-the-cuff remarks last December:

Dec. 5

— In audiotaped comments to the university Athletic Council, Gee criticizes Notre Dame’s negotiating tactics, jokingly refers to “those damn Catholics,” lampoons the academic integrity of the University of Louisville and Southeastern Conference while singling out the University of Kentucky, alleges that University of Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez considered former Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema a “thug,” makes mildly disparaging remarks about Alvarez and Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany and laughingly suggests that Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith would have to be shot before he’d allow the University of Cincinnati to join the Big Ten.

Jan. 31

— University trustees learn of the comments.

March 11

— University trustees deliver a letter to Gee ordering him to “promptly” undertake a series of initiatives to make up for the remarks, including personal apologies.

March 18

— Gee sends an email to the Rev. John Jenkins, Notre Dame’s president, asking if they could meet “in the near future” when Gee will be in South Bend, Ind., home of Notre Dame.

March 29

— In a speech to the Columbus Metropolitan Club, Gee refers to his habit of unfortunate remarks without mentioning the Dec. 5 comments, saying: “Even as my world view has greatly expanded, I have at times misstepped.”

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